DISCLAIMER: This is my own personal view and opinion and no way associated with Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine or it's Affiliates. This is solely based on my experience with purchasing this product for my Lake Tanganyika Project, 4 Corners .

I am on a quest, a quest for more reliable better lighting. It started with a thread here on TFH Forums regarding someone intending to purchase a Finnex FugeRay Planted+ Fixture.

Having scoured the Internet, I decided it was time I upgraded my lighting. I ordered two Finnex FugeRay Planted+ systems and was blown away by:

(a) The overall brightness in my Fluval Flora(b) How it brought out the colors of my Neon Tetras (I had no idea that they were that brilliantly colored) and Marvin, our Yellow Betta

I couldn't wait to install the light (I am keeping one for another project) and get it going on my small tank and decided I am having an issue with my 75GAL Bowfront.

For months now I have been battling different forms of algae that seems to be plaguing the tank. Bottom line, I am pumping 2 X 54W T5HO over this tank with NOTHING for nutrient uptake other than water changes which I have now stepped up to every 3 days.

I was getting frustrated when I looked at my Finnex and realized, hey, there are 48" LED Fixtures out there on the market. Why not just replace my current lights (they are for sale), with a LED Fixture. Off to the Internet again. I just need a consumer level light, so I can see my fish in their bright colors without pumping serious wattage into the tank. It's 21" deep, and my Multies live in this level anyways.

I found that for my needs the Marineland Double Bright 48" LED Fixture would be perfect for my application. So then I searched my Petsmart Locations here in town to find that all carried this beast. Fully intending to purchase this light, I hopped in the SUV and headed down for a day at a Big Box Store.

I rarely hit Big Box stores, so the visit was brief (should have picked up more water conditioner, rats) and I tend not to "linger" in such stores, as they usually offer only the standard affair of Fish so I am not interested.

I go down the light aisle and here is something else that is looking at me, 'National Geographic 48" Aquarium LED Fixture'. National Geographic? In the Aquarium World? Really? This must be a darn quality item compared to the Marineland systems. BTW, for the Marineland Fixtures they had 36" and down, no 48" long setups.

Considering positive points (both boxes had different pieces of data regarding the light which made it a bit confusing to decipher) I decided that hey! National Geographic! These guys know their animals! Geeked out and getting an extra $18 off, I was pretty happy that I now have all LED Light Fixtures for all my tanks. Goodbye bulbs, it was a great ride, but time to move on.

I immediately (foolishly) put my 2 X T5HO System up for sale before leaving to the store, as once again, way to much light for a tank in which is technically, "View Only".

Looking forward to Nat.Geo lights turning on. In retrospect, I should have turned them on and checked it out over the tank before I waited for the timer to come on and realize OMG what have I done? Dim can't begin to describe the lighting setup. My small 3LED Flashlight emits more light energy!

Seriously, the "glass tubes" in which the LEDs are stored look awfully fragile to the point, I'm hyper cautious around lifting and placing the light back in it's wrapping.

Yes, I am returning it. I can barely see into the tank. I am sorely disappointed, that National Geographic would allow their name on such a product.

I could barely see into the tank, even in pure dark, it was only dimly lit. For an extra $40 I can get a Marineland 48" Double Bright System (I called another Petsmart location and had them put one in the back for me) fixture that will actually allow me to view my fish without squinting.

Disappointed. Yes. I am a huge fan of National Geographic and thinking that the product would rival their name, it's a big let down. I plan to return the fixture tomorrow, and for an extra couple of bucks, go get what I intended to purchase.

Even for tanks that are shallower (my tank is 21" deep), I don't think you could even grow Java Fern. The Lighting is that poor.